Tipp minor footballers season ends at the hands of Westmeath
Tipperary were simply blown away in the last quarter by a smart Westmeath team when losing by eighteen points in the new All-Ireland Minor Football Tier 3 quarter final on Saturday.
GAA: Electric Ireland All-Ireland Minor Football Tier 3 Quarter Final
Tipperary 0-10
Westmeath 3-19
Report: Liam Hogan in Templetuohy
The Leinster side, with the help of the breeze, outscored Tipp 3-8 to no score in the last quarter leaving the home side with nothing to show after a promising year in the Munster series.
Everything was competitive up to the 45th minute when Westmeath led 0-12 to 0-10 as the Tipp management introduced Jamal Yousef and the Clonmel Og player won his first possession and ventured through the Westmeath defence when he blasted for goal but his well struck effort blasted off the crossbar and out to safety.
A shocked Westmeath defence sprung to safety and in two kicked passes they had Tipp in trouble over the next five minutes when they kicked 2-2 without reply. With that it was game over.
It was all so different in the opening half. Tipp played with the stiff breeze and were a deserved five points in front by the fourteenth minute thanks to Charlie Walsh with two plus one each from Patrick McDonagh, Dylan Cotter, Cillian Healy, and Ciaran Kelly.
Indeed, it could have been more, but the final pass was one too many or coming into contact with a defender turning the ball over and Westmeath were dangerous on the counter-attack as Darragh Lough, William Scahill and Cormac McKeogh were involved in a move which forced Tipp to concede a free and James McHugh made no mistake.
Tipp went four in front after twenty minutes after Ryan O’Sullivan scored a wonderful point to make it 0-7 to 0-3. William Scahill, who was one of Westmeath’s standout forwards, replied with the first of three unanswered points with James McHugh (another good prospect) adding two more, the second from a free.
Tipp appeared to be slipping but Tom Corcoran proved he is more than a centre back when he scored a point. James McHugh replied for the Lake County, but Corcoran displayed craft and poise with his second point to leave Tipp 0-9 to 0-7 in front at half time.
Westmeath wasted no time in gaining parity as two McHugh frees brought them level by the 36th minute. Tipp respond with a number of raids but over playing the link passing in front of the Westmeath goal area brought no joy, but Ryan O’Sullivan first timed a lobbing ball from the opposite wing but was off target as the ball flew past the post and wide.
Meanwhile, Westmeath went about their business with efficiency as they went three in front increased their lead to three with James McHugh precise on placed balls. Tipp replied with Charlie Walsh scoring a free and Tipp trailing 0-12 to 0-10 there was no signs of panic especially when Jamal Yousef came close to breaking the crossbar.
James McHugh landed another free, quickly followed by a William Scahill point from play, and with the heavy rain continuing the Tipp defence were not alert to the poor kickout and Cormac McKeogh gathered possession on the 45 before offloading to Andrew Henson who in turn found an unmarked McHugh racing through to blast low and hard past Mark Conroy.
Tipp tried to comeback, but Oran Gahan was dispossessed and McHugh turned provider for William Scahill to score Westmeath’s second goal on 51 minutes.
It was all Westmeath now and they added five more points through Darragh Lough plus one each by midfielders Michael Weir and Daire O’Brien and two from man of the match William Scahill before an injury time goal by substitute Rody O’Brien ended the scoring.
After much promise in the group stage of the Munster championship and the heartening display against future champions Kerry, this latest display will leave a huge disappointment to the players and management. Maybe the Leinster championship is of a higher standard this year.
For the record Tom Corcoran has potential as a senior player. Dylan Cotter, Cillian Kealy, Charlie Walsh, and Ryan O’Sullivan showed up well at times but poor decision making in front of goal continues to hold back Tipp in the football world.
But Westmeath had too many tricks in the bag as goalkeeper Adam Buckley showed real presence in goal well supported by a solid full back in Cian Whitney while out the field there were good displays by Adam Smyth, Mikey Weir, Daire O’Brien, Cormac McKeogh, James McHugh, and William Scahill.
TEAMS - Tipperary: Mark Conroy (Drom & Inch); Jack McGonigle (Rockwell Rovers), Ronan Myles (Ardfinnan), Gavin Neville (Fethard); Danny Morris (Clonmel Commercials), Tom Corcoran (JK Brackens), Jack Garrett (Arravale Rovers); Dylan Cotter (Thurles Gaels), Oran Gahan (St Patricks); Cillian Healy (Kilruane MacDonaghs), Patrick McDonagh (Cahir), Sean Griffin (Upperchurch/Drombane); Ciaran Kelly (Arravale Rovers), Charlie Walsh (Fethard), Ryan O’Sullivan (Clerihan).
Subs: Alex Coppinger (Durlas Og) for O’Sullivan (45); Luke McKeogh (Ballina) for Healy (45); Jamal Yousef (Clonmel Og) for Griffin (48); Dayle Hogan (JK Brackens) for Gahan (55).
Westmeath: Adam Buckley; Ben Sheerin, Cian Whitney, Daire Burke; Ty Masterson, Adam Smyth, Jack Carroll; Mikey Weir, Daire O’Brien; Andrew Henson, Darragh Lough, Cormac McKeogh; James McHugh, Ryan Flynn, William Scahill.
Subs: Michael Moloney for Flynn (40); Rory Hatton for Burke (47); Sean Byrne for C McKeogh (57), Brian Ronan for Scahill (57), Rory O’Brien for Lough (57).
Referee: Timmy McGrath (Limerick).